Residents from five training programs report improvements in knowledge, attitudes and skills after a rotation with a hospice program.

Background: The faculty of the Center for Palliative Studies teach residents from 5 different primary care residency training programs who rotate at San Diego Hospice: 3 in Internal Medicine, 2 in Family Medicine. Residents participate in the care of patients in the inpatient care setting and make joint home visits with physicians and other team members. A series of 4 lectures on end-of-life care is given on Tuesday mornings: management of pain, other symptoms, interdisciplinary roles of chaplains, social workers, nurses, and grief/bereavement are discussed.